Explainers

At the March 2026 European Council, EU leaders agreed on an agenda of concrete measures with ambitious deadlines to strengthen the EU's competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy. 

The EU has set rules to guarantee the protection of posted workers while also preserving the freedom to provide cross-border services.

The EU is reforming its customs union to make procedures more efficient, strengthen security measures and improve risk management across member states.

Air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in Europe. New EU rules will significantly improve air quality and reduce pollution-related deaths.

The EU-NATO strategic partnership is crucial to maintaining security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, and to protecting citizens in Europe and beyond.

The EU and its member states are committed to ramp up Europe’s defence readiness and to boost their defence spending at a time of rapid geopolitical shifts and a radically changed security situation.

The long-term budget or multiannual financial framework (MFF) provides for the financing of programmes and actions in all policy areas, from agriculture and regional policy, to support to Ukraine, strategic technologies and migration, in line with the EU’s long-term priorities.

The Global Gateway is the EU's strategy to mobilise public and private investment worldwide between 2021 and 2027.

SAFE is an EU instrument providing loans of up to €150 billion to help EU member states make rapid and significant increases in their defence investments through common procurement.

How will the EU become more energy efficient? The EU is setting new targets for energy efficiency and savings.